Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell is urging farmers and families across the region to help stop what he is calling Labor’s fresh food tax, by registering interest to have their say online.
Consultation has opened into Labor’s Sustainable Funding to Strengthen Biosecurity program.
Mr Birrell said farmers and families in Nicholls would be impacted by Labor’s plans, which would push up the price of fresh food.
“In my electorate of Nicholls, 4295 farmers are likely to be affected by this new tax, which comes into effect on July 1, 2024,” Mr Birrell said.
“Farmers make up 6.1 per cent of workers in our electorate.
“Farmers are critical to our region, as they support rural communities and provide us with fresh, healthy and affordable food.
“The new tax on farmers will inevitably be passed on to consumers, which means even higher grocery bills for locals.
“I am determined to stop this new tax on our farmers and our food. I urge locals in Nicholls to register their interest, to help stop this senseless new tax.”
The “new tax” is a biosecurity levy on farmers, set at a rate equivalent of 10 per cent of the 2020-21 industry-led levies.
Shadow Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said it had been almost three months since the budget and there was still no new information about the biosecurity levy.
“It is unfathomable the Labor Government would ask farmers to pay for the biosecurity risks of international importers from other countries,” Mr Littleproud said.
“Instead of taxing farmers, a future Coalition Government will scrap this tax. Under our plan, importers of foreign products will pay for the biosecurity risk they pose — not Australian farmers.”
For more information, go to www.haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-funding